Adjustable louver operator



May 9, W50 L. G. BROWN ADJUSTABLE LOUVER OPERATOR 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 50, 1948 Lemuaj 6'. Brown JNVENTOR,

a AT TO R N EY May 9, 1950 L. e. BROWN ADJUSTABLE LOUVER OPERATOR 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 50', 1948 3 LemuaJG. Brown INVEN TOR,

ATTORNEY May 9, 1950 L. 6. BROWN 2,506,771

ADJUSTABLE LOUVER OPERATOR 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Aug. so, 1948 Lemuaj G. Brawn JNVENTOR,

ATTORN EY Patented May 9, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,506,771 ADJUSTABLE LOUVER OPERATOR Lemual G. Brown, Oklahoma City, Okla. Application August so, 1948, Serial No. 46,748

' *The present invention relates to metal awnings 'of the pivoted louver type, and more particularly to operating or control mechanism for the louvers of such awnings.

The present invention is an improvement over my pending application Serial Number 597,010,

' filed June 1, 1945.

In crank operated louver controls, it is usually necessary to bore a transverse hole through the bottom rail of the fly-screen frame, sdfthat the shaft portion of the crank may engagethe control mechanism. In some cases the hole is bored through the apron of a window frame, and also through the fly-screen rail.

Since the awning frame which pivotally mounts the louvers must be positioned in a certain position with relation to the window opening, it frequently occurs that the bored hole or holes fail to properly align with the crank socket.

Another object is to provide a louver control mechanism which is so designed that frictional tension may be applied selectively to the mechanism in order to retain the louvers in their various adjusted positions.

A further object is to provide a very simple mechanism for accomplishing the purposes set forth hereinabove.

An additional object is to provide a louver control mechanism, which is so designed that it is comparatively cheap to manufacture, is simple to install, and which has few moving parts to become worn or to get out of order.

Other objects will be apparent from the following description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying three sheets of drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of the lower right hand corner portion of an awn I ing frame, lookin outwardly at its inside sur-- face, and showing the control mechanism of the present invention operatively installed thereon;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary plan view, partially in horizontal section, and illustrating the awning frame in its installed relation to a conventional fly-screen and window frame;

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially along the line 3--3 of Fig. 2;

Figure 4 is a view similar to Fig. 1, but showing the louvers in their closed instead of partially opened positions, and showing the control mechanism in its corresponding position;

-8 Claims. (Cl. 268-96) 'spective pivot pins 1.

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view showing a slightly different embodiment of the invention;

Figure '6 is a vertical view taken longitudinally through the mechanism of Fig. 5; and

Figure 7 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken through a fly-screen rail and window frame opening, and illustrating vertical adjustability of the operating crank.

Like characters of reference designate like parts in those figures of the drawings in which they occur.

In the drawings:

The reference numeral l indicates, as as whole, a conventional awning, frame which is usually rectangular in outline, and which is composed of two parallel vertically disposed side members, a top member extending between and rigidly connecting the upper ends of said side members, and which has a horizontal bottom member or sill which extends between and rigidly connects the lower ends of the two side members.

In the accompanying drawings, only the lower portion of the right hand side member, and the right hand end portion of the sil1 member is shown. The side member shown is indicated, as a whole, by the reference numeral 2, and the sill member is indicated in its entirety by the nu meral 3.

The two frame members 2 and 3 are substantially conventional, except that the inside edge of the sill member 3 is provided with an upstanding flange 4 which extends throughout the entire length of the sill.

As is usual with louver-type awnings, there'is provided a plurality of horizontally disposed louvers 5 which span the central opening or space described by the frame i, such louvers having perpendicularly bent end flanges or ears 6 at both ends of each, such ears being pivotally connected to the side members by suitable rivets or pivot pins 1. The ears 6 of similar ends of the louvers are each pivotally connected by a pivot pin 9 to a vertically disposed actuating bar 8, which When shifted vertically, acts to partially rotate the louvers simultaneously upon their re- The louvers are so arranged with relation to each other, that when the bar 8 is lowered, their edge portions H] are swung outwardly to leave spaces between the louvers, and when the bar is raised, said louver edges l0 simultaneously swing downwardly to overlap the upper edge of the next'louver therebelow. The upper edges of the louvers are indicated by the reference numeral I l. a,

With the exception of the flange 4 of the sill member 3, the elements which are above described, and which are indicated by the reference numerals l to H inclusive, are more or less con- --ventional, or at least,-are disclosed in my above mentioned patent application Serial Number 597,010.

The actuator of the present invention is adapted to function in connection with the above described awning frame. I, the louv'ers 51; and the actuating bar- 8, and consists substantially of the following described parts or elements.

A loop-like strap metal bracket is provided.

for installation upon the upper. surface of the sill member 3. The bracket 20 consists of an elongated fiat plate portion 2| havingJan-elongated through slot 22 adjacent itsleft handend, as.v

,- The-bottom 23 and top 25 of :theloopuare :alignedlyiperfora-ted to receive a clampingbolt il -which has-a threaded endadapted -to receive a nut 28. The offices-ofthe bracket 29randcbolt 21 aremore fully described. hereinbelow.

-.Disposed within therloopof the bracket :2U,-and normally movable therein, is a cylindrical cranksocket 29 having a polygonal 'bore.-30 therein. The-crank socket 2 9 continually lies in-,a hori- *zontal position, but'may beshifted to various *degreeswith. relation to the -longitudinal-aaxis .of. the bracket 20:

The fiat, portion. 2| of the bracket 20-, is pivotally :connectedto thesill 31-of the awning-frame by-a-suitable bolt 3| passing throughithe-zslot and having :anut 32 by which the portion? 2| may be clampedto thewsill. The" arrangement -is such that the-bracket Zilmay berbodilyshifted 'longitudinally-along thesill 3,-or it. maybemoved pivotally with relation to said sill. In. .both events, the' bracket may be selectivelyanchored *to the sill by tightening the.- nut 32. 7

.By tighteningthe: nut 28 .onthe' boltrz'l, the top 25 of the loop may be caused to frictionally engagetheorank-socketZS. This-frictional ten sion --may'be either increasedor decreased at will by proper: manipulation. of-the nut 28..

.The-crank-socketzfl has a rigid arm 33 projecting from its exterior surfaceeintermediateQ the -.'ends the-reof, and the-outer end of the arm 33 ;;-is. through' perforated to receive a pivot;pin-. 34. --'An--.-arcua-te link'35 has its ;lower-*end"pivotally connected to the'pin 34, and its other endis pivot- ;ally connected to the actuating -bar-8-. bya'suitable bolt-'36.

Pivotal movementof. -crank-esocket. "29 .invua .--.clock -wise. direction, causesthe arm 33.- to swing :downwardly from its position as' shown: inEigJA, and. such movement of. thearm-33 also causes @downwardmovement of the actuating bar 8. The .jsillthasa-n:elengatedthrough slot 3:! which acts ..as arelief to permit downward movement of the arm=33.

The arm 33 is equipped with .a..rigid leg- 38 which isadapted to contact the. sill-3. and limit "pivotal. movement of the crank-socket in -a counter clock-wisedirection.

InFig. 2,: the awning, frame. I,- is illustrated as being, -mounted to .a conventional 'fiy-screen frame, with the reference numeral 39indicating the-bottom cross-member of the fiy-screen frame. In said Fig. 2, the reference numeral 40 indicates the bottom cross-member of a' conventional-win- .dowfi'ame against Whichthe fly-screen frame; is gmonnted. When the, :awning -,frame .is thus 4 mounted, the flange 4 of the sill 3 lies against the outer surface of the fly-screen frame.

In order to actuate the crank-socket 29 to partial rotation, the two cross-members 39 and '40 are alignedly'perforated to permit the passage therethrough of the shank portion 4| of a suitable hand operated crank 42. The end of the 1 shank portion 4| is made polygonal to coincide with-and removably fit within the bore of 'the'crank-socket 29.

'In installing the control mechanism of the .present invention. it is preferable that the bore "holes in the cross-members 39 and 40 be positioned. in axial alignment with the crank-socket '29, when the crank-socket is disposed at right ;ang1es. to-the.-fiange 4 of the sill 3. However,- inaccuracymaye and usually does occur. to some degree, with: mic-alignment resulting.

Should the holes be found to have been bored perpendicular to thecross-members 39 and 4!], but to :one'side of the. crank-socket, then the bracket-20 may be bodily shifted to obtain proper registry of the holes and the bore of the crank-socket. Should it be found that the holes have beentbored other than at right-angles to the cross-members 39 and 30, then the crank-socket maybe-ad- 'justably shifted in the bond the bracketlll. In either'event, compensation ispossiblezforany horizontaliinaccuracy in boring. the holes through the membersSBzandM. I

The connections of the'-arm.33,. in.34-andl link 35 are left sufficiently loose to permit the. shifting of the crank-socket 29 within reasonable limits.

By' selectively tightening orloosening the'nut 28 on the clamping bolt 21, proper frictional tension may be placed on the crank-socket to-insure the louvers 5' remaining in place, once they'have been pivotally set. The same control mechanism may therefore be used onawnings having: different numbers of louvers, or having. louvers' of different lengths.

In Fig. 2, the variance in the 'positiorrxotathe boreholes have beenpurposely exaggeratednover conditions which the mechanismwould ordinarily be called upon 'to accommodate.

In Figs...1 1304 inclusive isrshown an :embodi ment of the invention which isrcapableof com- :pensating for horizontal discrepancy in the .bore holes; through: the fly-screen member .39: and; the

window frame number 40. Itis obvious :that

- vertical variation might also welloccur in: boring said: holesyand that it would thereforerbadesirable to provide for the-"accommodation of .such

' variation. With this object inview, the: embodiment of Figs. 5, {Land 7 has been provided.

In Figs. 5 and 6, the'portion'. 2120f therrbracket i2llziscurved upwardly-asindicated by therefer- "-en'ce numeral" 43; thus raising the loop'portion of the bracket a slight distance above-the silli3 of the awning frame I. In this embodiment, it is preferable that the bracket'20, or at least? the portion 2| thereof, be made of tempered steelgso that it will have inherent resiliency tending'to normally'maintain' the loop in its spaced relation The loop of the bracket may the sill 3' by distorting the bent portion against its inherent resiliency.

In order thatthe loop end of the bracket-.10 may besprung downwardly into flat-contact-with theupper surface of. the sill 3, thesillis provided .with a perforation or hole. 44. The hole 44 is located directly :beneaththe. head of the clamping bolt 21, so that the head may enter the hole when the bracket is sprung downwardly.

By springing the bracket either upwardly or downwardly, compensation is furnished for vertical variation in boring the holes through the horizontal frame members 39 and til. The crank socket may therefore be aligned with the bore holes through the frame members 39 and 55, and thereafter, the shank ll of the crank may be easily inserted at will.

In order to control the vertical relationship between bracket 2i? and the sill S, adjusting screws iii and lii are provided. The screws are threadedly engaged respectively with the bracket portion 2i and the sill 3, and their adjustment is thought to be obvious.

Obviously the invention is susceptible to some change or alteration without defeating its prac ticability, and I therefore do not wish to be confined to the preferred embodiment shown in the drawings and described herein, further than I am limited. by the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. The combination with a window awning consisting of a rigid frame pivotally supporting a plurality of horizontal louvers, and wherein a vertically reciprocal actuating bar acts to pivotally move the louvers simultaneously, of means for manually controlling movement of the bar, including: a loop-like bracket of spring material adapted to lie a substantially horizontal position above the bottom horizontal member of said frame; means for laterally pivoting the bracket in such position on a vertical axis; a horizontal rotatable crank-socket passing through the loop of said bracket and movable therein to various angles with relation to the frame; means for retaining the socket in various horizontal positions of adjustment while allowing its rotation; a perpendicular arm carried by the socket; a link hav ing one end pivotally connected to the outer end of said arm; an operative connection betw" other end of said link and said louver ac bar; and a removable crank adapted at one i to be inserted into said socket for rotating the same within said bracket loop.

2. The combination with a window awning con sisting of a rigid frame pivotally supporting a plurality of horizontal louvers, and wherein a vertically reciprocal actuating bar acts to pivotally move the louvres simultaneously, of means for manually controlling movement of the bar, including: a loop-like bracket adapted to lie flatly upon the bottom horizontal member of said frame; means for pivoting the bracket in such position on a vertical axis; a horizontal rotatable crank-socket passing through the loop of said bracket and movable therein to various angles with relation to the frame; means for adjustably creating frictional tension between said bracket loop and the socket; a link having one end pivotally connected to the outer end of said arm; an operative connection between the other end of said link and said louver actuating bar; and a removable crank adapted at one end to be inserted into said socket for rotating the same within said bracket loop.

3. Structure as specified in claim 1, in which the bracket pivoting means allows longitudinal shifting of the bracket along said horizontal member, and means for retaining the bracket in various horizontal positions of adjustment with relation to said horizontal frame member.

4. Structure as specified in claim 1, and means 6 for limiting rotation of the crank-socket in one direction.

5. Structure as specified in claim 2, in which said tension creating means includes: a bolt extending through the top and bottom walls of the loop; and a nut on the bolt for bending one of said walls.

6. The combination with a window awning consisting of a rigid frame pivotally supporting a plurality of horizontal louvers, and wherein a vertically reciprocal actuating bar acts to pivotally move the louvres simultaneously, of means for manually controlling movement of the bar, including: a loop-like bracket of spring material adapted to lie in a substantially horizontal position above the bottom horizontal member of said frame; means for laterally pivoting the bracket in such position on a vertical axis; a horizontal rotatable crank element passing through the loop of said bracket and movable therein to various angles with relation to the frame; means for retaining the element in various horizontal positions of adjustment while allowing its rotation; a perpendicular arm carried by the element; a link having one end pivotally connected to the outer end of said arm; and an operative connection between the other end of said link and said louver actuating bar.

7. The combination with a window awning consisting of a rigid frame pivotally supporting a plurality of horizontal louvers, and wherein a vertically reciprocal actuating bar acts to pivot ally move the louvers simultaneously, of means for manually controlling movement of the bar, including: a loop-like bracket adapted to lie flatly upon the bottom horizontal member of said frame; means for pivoting the bracket in such position on a vertical axis; a horizontal rotatable crank element passing through the loop of said bracket and movable therein to various angles with relation to the frame; means for adjustable creating frictional tension between said bracket loop and the element; a link having one end pivotally connected to the outer end of said arm; and an operative connection between the other end of said link and said louver actuating bar.

8. The combination with a window awning consisting of a rigid frame pivotally supporting a plurality of horizontal louvers, and wherein a vertically reciprocal actuating bar acts to pivotally move the louvers simultaneously, of means for manually controlling movement of the bar, including: a loop-like bracket of spring material pivotally affixed to the frame for transverse swinging movement with relation to the frame; an elongated crank element passing through the loop of said bracket and movable therein to various angles in relation to the frame; means for retaining said element in various positions of angular adjustment while allowing its rotation; a perpendicular arm carried by said element; a link having one end pivotally connected to the outer end of said arm; and operative connections between the other end of the link and said louver actuating bar.

LEMUAL G. BROWN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 171,096 Byam Dec. 14, 1875 2,311,300 Dubour et a1 Feb. 16, 1943 

